Open your eyes, let me show you the light

[pobrecisco]

WHO: Cisco Ramon and assorted others.
WHERE: Around!
WHEN: Throughout February
WHAT: Catch-all!
WARNINGS: Will update as needed.

Comments

action; couple days after the return of the kidnapped

[hsalf]

[Things are far from "back to normal" but things are slowly getting there after the kidnapped imPorts have returned to America. Eobard chose, rightfully he decided, to give space before he went and did his checks. The only person he made a more immediate observation of safety on was Eddie, for necessary precautions. Aside from that, he allowed people their space.

That same courtesy was extended to Cisco, until now.

First he waits for a moment where no one else but Cisco is in the house. No Barry or Eddie or Garrick. He needs to keep things at a proper distance and getting any of those three involved would be a headache he doesn't want right now. Eddie would especially throw a dramatic fit, he's certain of that, and there's only so much of his ancestor he can tolerate. Once he's certain they're all out and about, he approaches the garage door. Cisco is often there and he bets on the chance of that being true.

Yes he could phase into the garage effortlessly, but like the courtesy he extended by keeping space, he will also grant courtesy by banging on the door of the garage instead of vibrating through it. If Cisco doesn't open it up...well, he did knock and that should be enough warning that he's here.]

[pobrecisco]

[ Sure enough, Cisco's in the garage, hard at work on studying the intricacies of M's asset tech with the gear he'd borrowed from work before his progress was so rudely interrupted by Mother Russia. Unfortunately, he has headphones on and he's jamming out way too hard with his music up way too loud to hear the rattle of the garage door when Eobard bangs on it. ]

[hsalf]

[...Well he tried. Nobody can say he didn't and therefore no one should criticize him.

He even waits for a few seconds just to be sure, before taking a few steps back and doing and quick sprint and vibration through the door and into the garage. And...Cisco is there, on his headphones. Bless the boy's heart, but he'll be as deaf as Hartley with the music so loud in his ears.

With a huff he walks up behind Cisco and quickly clutches Cisco's shoulder.]

Cisco!

[pobrecisco]

[ Cisco drops his tools and sits bolt upright in his seat, screeching as he whips around. ]

Oh my god not cool! Are you trying to kill me?

[hsalf]

[That shrill screech is the only thing that makes him flinch in the slightest, his hand immediately going off the boy's shoulder. He...did not realize Cisco had that kind of scream in his vocal chords.]

You shouldn't listen to your music so loud that you can't hear a knock on the door.

[pobrecisco]

It helps me concentrate.

[ The music is still blaring out his headphones from where they've fallen around his neck, though, and he grudgingly turns them down, then pauses it and takes them off entirely. ]

[hsalf]

[Concentrate on what? He can understand music being soothing, but so loud that you can't hear yourself think? Maybe it's just a 21st century thing.]

I won't be long here. Only came to check on you.

2/1 - For Barry

[pobrecisco]

[ The bar is one of the nicer ones in downtown Heropa, close enough to the imPort housing blocks that they advertise imPorts as regular patrons for the excitable natives, and offer drink specials for imPorts themselves to draw them in. But the bigger draw, at least for Cisco and Barry, is the stage and sizeable karaoke database the place hosts.

Cisco sends Barry to snag them a stage-side table and heads to the bar to order drinks and a round of shots to get them going. Even if Barry doesn't get any effect from the alcohol, he can't just drink alone, right? That's tacky. He brings the drinks over to the table, along with a book of karaoke selections. What he doesn't notice is the group of girls, mostly newly 21, but some of may very well be sneaking in on fake IDs, giggling and whispering excitedly amongst themselves when they notice they're in the presence of imPorts. ]

Okay dude, what's up first?

[tardily]

[ Barry half notices the girls, only because they're really loud when they giggle and because instinctively he thinks that just maybe they're giggling about him and Cisco. He has to shake his head to clear it when Cisco comes over and after a second he grabs the book of selections. ]

Depends, do we want to go for something you wouldn't be singing until you've gotten several drinks in you or something that lets us come back here next week with our heads held mostly high. [ A pause. ] I might have to say no to any showtunes though. Just because— I'm still not over Caitlin's Summer Nights.

[pobrecisco]

Still so mad you didn't get that on camera, dude. She never gets karaoke-drunk with me!

[ He grins and downs a shot. ]

Anyway, I specifically left shame at home tonight, so I am up for anything. But I think I'm kinda feelin' the 80s tonight.

[tardily]

How was I supposed to know she was going to with me! It's not like I went out thinking I was going to see Caitlin drunkenly being Sandy at me. If I could have gone back in time to that exact moment, I would have totally gotten it on camera. Even if she would have murdered us both later.

[ He manages to hold back the laugh until after he downs his own shot. Gold star not getting any vodka up his nose. ]

I have at least a little shame left to not do something like Girls Just Want to Have Fun. Tempting, but— that's a shower song. [ As opposed to Barry's actual choice, which is clearly not a shower song. ] You feel okay with Uptown Girl?

[pobrecisco]

Yeah, dude, no kidding that's a shower song. You know I share a wall with our bathroom, right?

[ He gives him a look. You're a lot of things, Barry Allen, but Cyndi Lauper you ain't. ]

Are you kidding? I'm always down for some Billy Joel.

[tardily]

You could tell me to shut up, you know. It's just— it used to help me wake up before the lightning. I never stopped. At least I don't fall in the shower any more.

[ He gives Cisco a look back, as if to say don't say it before he frowns. He is totally Cyndi Lauper, don't hate, Cisco. ]

You never know, sometimes you have to dial down the Billy. My next choice was gonna be Bon Jovi. And there needs to be a little more booze before we do Livin' on a Prayer like it's supposed to be done.

2/14 - For M

[pobrecisco]

[ Sunday afternoon, Cisco texts M an address in De Chima and "7:30, be there", and he doesn't answer any other texts for the rest of the day. The address leads M to the very outskirts of De Chima, almost outside of the city entirely. From the outside of the building, it looks like an old barn and farmhouse. But once inside, it's warmly lit, beautifully furnished, and delicious smells waft from the kitchen. There's also several brew tanks in a back room, visible through old glass windows,brightly painted and advertising several brewed-on-site beers.

The hostess greets M with a smile and leads him through the main dining room to a smaller, more private room towards the back of the restaurant. There's a small fire burning in a rustic fireplace, and a table set for two. Cisco's already there, dressed nicely with nary a sign of a graphic tee to be seen, but still distracted with his comm, tapping away with both thumbs on some coding project or another. ]

[heliophilic]

[At 7:29, M steps through a Door to appear right outside the restaurant in question, taking a moment to see where, exactly, Cisco wanted him to meet. He thought about googling the address ahead of time, but why spoil the surprise? There's a millisecond of confusion, but then the smell of the kitchen catches his nostrils and he smiles. So he can be taught.

He follows the hostess to the back of the restaurant, savoring the variety of smells coming from the kitchen. If the food tasted as good as it smelled, Cisco has certainly found a great place. Then he sees Cisco sitting there, dressed up for his benefit, quietly thanks the hostess and then slips behind his distracted boyfriend, taking the opportunity to lean down and plant a soft kiss on the side of his neck. M then slides a small bouquet of roses between Cisco and his comm. Personally, he thinks it's a bit much (you really don't want to get him started about his thoughts on commercially-created holidays and the toxic consumer culture it creates), but at the same time figures Cisco would enjoy the gesture.]

It smells like we're a long way from dino nuggets.

[In the same vein Cisco had dressed up for him, M had in fact dressed down for Cisco. He's wearing the t-shirt Cisco gave him beneath the same brown leather jacket as when he showed it off the first time, though this time opting for black jeans and dressy grey combat boots to top everything off. In his free arm is an almost comically large box of chocolate (again, something he finds a bit much but he's aware of Cisco's sweet tooth). He couldn't bring himself to buy a heart-shaped box. He has limits.]

[pobrecisco]

[ Cisco looks up abruptly at M's touch, tucking his phone away and bursting into a wide grin at the sight of the gifts. It turns into a little bit of a smirk when he notices the tshirt, too. ]

Wow. I'm not usually the flowers type, but hey, I'll never say no to chocolate.

[ He runs a hand through his hair, fidgeting in that he has that betrays that he was a little nervous, even without the aid of M's implants. ]

So, uh, I hear this place is pretty good. I thought it'd be fun to try it out?

[heliophilic]

I figured it was only customary for Valentine's Day.

[He manages to not make that sound like he was trying to wrap his brain around some crazy alien concept, and that's a win in his book.

M leans in, brushing the hair away from Cisco's face with his thumb, and kisses the corner of his mouth. There's nothing to be nervous about.]

I'm always up for an adventure. Especially when I'm in good company.

[M lays the roses on the table out of the way and then props the almost comically large box of chocolate against Cisco's seat. M slides a newly free hand into Cisco's, then takes his seat opposite him.]

Have you looked at the menu yet?

[pobrecisco]

Hey, I'm not complaining! But you didn't have to, really.

[ He relaxes a little. He's never really had a Valentine's date before, and particularly not one quite so early in what he's already starting to consider an actual relationship. ]

Yeah, kinda. I checked it out when I was looking the place up online. Apparently pretty much everything is good.

[heliophilic]

I wanted to.

[M gives his hand a squeeze.]

I'm inclined to agree with that assessment. Everything in here smells amazing.

[With his free hand he props up the menu on the table, skimming it for anything that pops out at him.]

What are you leaning towards?

2/8 - backdating like a boss

[moded]

[Bart's bored. B-O-R-E-D boooooooooooooooooored.

Which is why he's skidding to a stop just outside his grandfather's house. Sure, he knows that some new people have moved in (has sort of met them), but that's definitely not stopping the plan he's had all day.

And sure enough, all it takes is one glance to the left and another to the right, and Bart's zipping in, vibrating through the front door, rifling through the cabinets until he finds a box of some sugary cereal or another, and is about to make a break for it through the garage when--]

Whoa! [He's stopped mid step, spoonful of cereal crammed into his mouth, the box tucked under an arm and spilling just a little onto the floor.] 'Dish ish sho BEAT!

[He grins around the mouthful of food, pivots, and speed walks on over to the super high tech and heavy duty treadmill in front of him, already reaching out to poke whatever button he sees first.]

[pobrecisco]

[ What Bart surely wasn't planning on was Cisco hunkered down under the table he has his computers set up on, installing some new hardware and rewiring things, and keeping him out of sight until Bart's already distracted by the treadmill. He pokes his head up into view when he hears him, and frowns at the stolen cereal. ]

Is there just a sign on our door advertising free food or something?

[moded]

[You know, for people who have super reflexes and see the world at a whole different speed, pace, etc etc etc you'd think it would be nigh impossible to actually startle a speedster.

You'd also be wrong.

Case in point, Bart yelping a little, jumping, and almost, almost throwing the cereal box at Cisco in pure self defense.

He's a hero.]

Wh- oh! Hey! [Bart, maybe lower the cereal box before it goes everywhere?] Wait isn't there? Did that change? Gramps always has free food!

[No, Bart. You just keep stealing it.]

[pobrecisco]

Yeah, you're welcome to steal Barry's food whenever you want. That cereal? Not Barry's.

[ He doesn't seem to actually care, though. He's just sitting back down and turning his bank of computers on. ]

[moded]

It wasn't? [He looks at the box of cereal, contemplates, and then shrugs and shoves another fistfull of sugary goodness into his mouth.] Scavenger rules then but dude!

[ZIPS on over to that treadmill again]

What's this it doesn't look like a normal treadmill I mean it doesn't look like the pictures I've seen of treadmills I've never had to use treadmills before and its in yours and gramps' house so no way it's just a normal treadmill what does it do?

[pobrecisco]

[ Why does he even try to have food for himself. This is why he eats out so much. ]

It's for measuring Barry's max speeds. Wanna try?